I am currently at the Rise Retreat 2026 in Nottingham, and while the seminars and spiritual talks have been amazing, what has stood out to me most is the association.
There is something you can genuinely feel when you are surrounded by senior spiritual leaders.
It isn’t loud or dramatic, but there is a quiet steadiness in how they carry themselves.
Association doesn’t just influence what we do… it shapes how we are.
There’s a common idea that we become the sum total of the five people we spend the most time with.
Being here doesn’t feel like a theory. It feels real because you start to notice it happening:
Your pace changes.
Your attention settles.
And your priorities quietly start to shift.
Then you look at your normal environment and realise how much of it is rushed, distracted and always moving — and how easily we become absorbed into it.
So the real question becomes:
Who am I consistently around?
Because over time, their pace becomes your pace.
Their standards become your standards.
Being at the Rise Retreat reminded me of something I don’t want to forget:
If I want to grow internally, not just externally, then I have to be intentional about my association.
So maybe take a moment to reflect:
Who are the five people I’m closest to?
And who am I becoming because of them?
Because real change doesn’t always come from trying harder.
Sometimes… it comes from standing in the right association long enough for it to shape you.
Jagannātha Dās
Come and Experience It
If this reflection resonates with you, one of the best ways to understand the power of association is simply to experience it.
Every Friday, we come together at OMNOM Birmingham for kirtan, mantra, music and community. I also share kirtan at other gatherings and events throughout the year.
Whether you’re completely new to kirtan or it’s already part of your life, you’re warmly welcome.